Excavating-machine.



G. E. WAGNER.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FlLED JUNE 10. 19m.

Patented May 8, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

Alfomey G E. WAGNER.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. IBIS.

Patented May 8, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

67% J3 70 60 6/ [N V EN TOR WITNESSES:

G. E. WAGNER.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 19m.

Patented May 8, 19 17.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 WITNESSES TEE %TAE% PATNT @FFTE."

GEORGE ELDER, WAGNER, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 KEYSTONE DBILLER CO., OF BEAVER. FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Excava'rme-macrrmn.

Patented Malay 1917?.

To all u-l1 om it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. lVaoNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Excavating-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to excavating machines, and more particularly to the means for controlling movements of the load,

which load may be represented by an excarating bucket or scoop in its active movements engaging the material to be excavated, the elevating movements of the scoop, and the return of the scoop into position to acquire a new load.

The scoop is carried upon a boom capable of being moved about a horizontal axis when the boom is connected to the body of the excavating machine and about an upright axis to swing the boom to one side or the other of the line of travel of the excavating machine. The scoop is arranged for movement lengthwise of the boom in order that the material to be excavated may be gathered into the scoop when moving in a direction away from that end of the boom jointed to the excavator machine, and the scoop is also arranged for movement toward the body of the excavator by gravity.

These movements are accomplished by means of winding drums and holding and release mechanisms constituting the present invention and whereby the drums are caused to operate in diiierent manners for the control of the scoop. One drum is connected to the scoop for the movement of the latter along the boom to gather the material to be excavated, and the other drum is connected to the boom for elevating and lowering movements thereof. while the swinging of the boom is brought about by-other mechanism.

in order to control the drums, vices under the control of the operator are provided. whereby one or the other of the drums is connected to a power shaft to be driven thereby. or the drum may be released from the power shaft to controllable extents. Furthermore. each operating lever is provided with a latch mechanism whereby the respective drum may, at the will of the operator, be locked against movement under the weight of the load or may be released to this specification,

lever depermit the load-v to gravitate to a desired point.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications come within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings 1- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an excavating machine embodying the invention, the drawing showing only so much of the machine as is necessary for an understanding of the invention.

Fig. :2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation with parts in cross-section showing the drum structure and the controlling levers therefor, other parts being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a plan view shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the structure of Fig. 3 as seen from the right hand end thereof.

Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, distant parts being omitted.

Fig. 7 's a section of the drum structure of the structures 7' on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5, other parts being omitted.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the operating levers and connections to the looking ratchet wheels of the corresponding drums.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a. main frame 1 mounted upon driving wheels 2 and other supporting wheels 3, and carrying at one end an upright post 4 capable of being turned on the axis of pivots 5 mounted in brackets 6 carried by the main frame. The post 4.- supports a boom 7 at what constitutes the inner or lower end of the boom by a pivot device 8, so that the boom may have its outer end raised or lowered or theboom may swingabout the axis of turning of the post 4, which axis is represented by the pivots 5. The post carries and is controlled by a wheel 8 made fast thereto and capable of being rotated by a rope or cable 10 extended to a drum 11, which by suitable mechanism, which it is not deemed necessary to show in detail, is actuated by an engine 12 considered in the particular showing of the drawing as a steam engine receiving power from a boiler 13. Much of the structure so far described is more or less diagrammatically shown, since many of the details are omitted, because such details do not in themselves form any part of the present invention.

The boom 7 has mounted thereon a bucket in the form of a scoop or shovel 14 movable along the boom in one direction by power and in the other direction by gravity, the power direction being away from the main body of the excavator represented by the frame 1, while the directionof movement of the scoop by gravity is toward the excavator, especially when the boom is in the elevated position shown in Fig. 1. I

At the outer or free end of the boom there is mounted a direction-changing sheave 15 about which there-is carried a line or cable 16 connected at one end of the scoop 14 and at the other end passing about another direction-changing sheave 17 journaled on the post 4. Near the foot of the frame 1 on suitable uprights 18 are other sheaves 19, 20, respectively, about one of which, say, the sheave 19, the cable 16 passes and ultimately leads to a drum structure to be described.

Fast to the wheel 9 are links 21 converging and joined to one end of a cable or line 22 passing about a direction-changing sheave 23 on the boom 7, and thence about a sheave 24 on the post 4, and finally about the sheave 20 to be ultimately connected to the drum structure to be described. The arrangement, as will hereinafter appear, is such thatwhen power is applied to the line or cable 16 the bucket 14 is moved along the boom, 7 away from the body of the excavator, the boom being then usually in a substantially horizontal position, so that the bucket or scoop 14 skims the surface to be excavated, or enters a pile of material to be excavated, and so becomes loaded with such material. The loading movement is a movement of the scoop away from the excavator, and when the scoop is full, or it is desired to dump it, the line or cable 22 is actuated in a manner to lift the outer end of the boom about the pivot 8, thus elevating the scoop 14, after which the boom may be moved to one side or the other by suitably actuating the line or cable 10, and the scoop is dumped by manipulation of a jerk line 25 provided for the purpose. To return the scoopto its first position the cable 16 is released, so that the scoop may gravitate toward the pivoted or lower end of the boom, and then by releasing or easing up on the line 22, the boom is lowered to a substantially horizontal position ready for the next actuation of the scoop.

Power from the engine 12 is transmitted to a crank shaft 26, which by means of a pinion 27 transmits power to a gear wheel 28 fast upon a power shaft 29 mounted in suitable journal bearings 30 carried by the main frame 1. The gear wheel 28 is fixed to the shaft 29, so that so long as the engine is running the shaft 29 is rotated, and it is desirable that the engine be kept in operation while excavating is proceeding. When the machine is to be moved from place to place, the engine may be disconnected from the gear wheel 28 and connected to the drive wheels 2 through suitable gearing, but as these features do not enter into the present invention, no description thereof is given.

Mounted loosely upon the shaft 29 are two winding drums 31, 32, respectively, each drum being independent of the other. The drum 31 is formed at one end with a ratchet or toothed wheel 33, and the drum 32 is formed at the end of the drum remote from the drum 31 with a ratchet or toothed wheel 34. Mounted fast upon the shaft 29 adjacent to the ratchet end of the respective drums 31 and 32 are respective pinions 35, 36. Each drum carries a series of equispaced pinions 37 in surrounding relation to and meshing with the respective pinions 35 or 36, as the case may be. Loosely mounted on the shaft 29 on the side of the drum 31 remote from the drum 32 is a peripherally grooved Wheel 38 having an axially extended flange 39 with interior gear teeth 40 meshing with the pinions 37 carried by the drum 31. On the side of the drum 32 remotefrom the drum 31 is a peripherally grooved wheel 41 like the wheel 38 and provided with an axially extended flange 42 with internal gear teeth 43 meshing with the pinions 37 carried by the drum 32. The wheels 38 and 41 have each a v-shaped peripheral groove 44, al-

though of course the groove may be of other shape. Engaging in the groove 44 of the wheel 38 is a correspondingly shaped brake band 45,'while the wheel 41 has a similar brake band 46. One end of each brake band is connected by a rod or link 47 to a fixed .that connected to the link 47. Mounted on the rock shaft 49 is a sleeve 52 traversing journal bearmgs 53 and carrying a rock arm 54 similar to the rockarm 51, which rock arm 54. is connected to the brake band 46 at the end thereof remote from the corresponding link 47. The sleeve 52 also carries a rock lever 55 by means of which the sleeve is rocked about the same axis as the rock shaft 49. By this means the lever 50'1nay be rocked in one direction or the other to tighten or loosen the band 45, or the lever 55 may be rocked in one direction or the other to tighten or loosen the brake band 46. Considering the shaft 29 as continuously rotating, the pinions 35 and 36 are also contlnuously rotating, and the pinions 37 are likewise continuously rotating. Since the drums 31 and 32 are connected to the respective lines or cables 22 and 16, the pinions 37 while rotating axially are held by the load imposed by the drums 31 and 32 from moving orbitally. For this .reason the rotation of the pinions 35 and 36 is transmitted to the wheels 38 and 41, and the latter therefore are set in rotation. If, however, either brake band be caused to bind in the respective groove 44 of the wheel 38 or 41, as the case may be, such wheel is held against rotation, and consequently the pinions 37 of the corresponding drum 31 or 32, as the case may be, are constrained to move orbitally, and the drum at a speed corresponding to the relation of the intermediate gearing.

Mounted upon the rock shaft 49 adjacent to the ratchet wheels 33 and 34 are corresponding pawls 56, 57, respectively, these pawls each having a nose end 58 adapted to engage the teeth of the respective ratchet wheel and also having an over-balancing end 59 remote from the nose 58, so that the tendency of the pawl 56 or 57 is to remain in engagement with the respective ratchet wheel. The arrangement, however, is such that the ratchet wheel is free to move, so far as the pawl is concerned, in the winding direction of the respective drum 31 or 32.

The lever .50 is provided with a finger latch member 60 connected by a link 61 extending lengthwise of the lever to a bell crank 62 mounted upon the lever 50 near the shaft 49. Extending from' the bell crank 62 is a link 63 carried cross-wise of the frame 1 to a bell crank rock lever 64 having a nose 65 in position to underride thecounter-Weight end 59 of-the pawl 56. The

lever 55 has asimilar finger latch member 66 connected by .a link 67 extending along the lever 55 to a bell crank 68 mounted on the lever near the sleeve 55. This bell crank 68 is connected by a link 69 to a bell crank lever 70 mounted on the frame 1 and having a nose 71 underriding the end 59 of the pawl 57.

"With the example described, either lever 50 or 55 may be'rocked in one direction or the other to tighten or loosen the respective brake band 45 or 46 without afiecting the 31 or 32 is therefore rotated.

, idly moving respective pawl 56 or 57. However, irrespective of the position of the lever 50 or 55 the latch member 60 or 66, as the case may be, is grasped by the hand of the operator and the pawl 56 or 57 released from engagement with the respective ratchet wheel 38 or 41, whereupon such ratchet wheel is free to rotate under the weight of the boom 7 or shovel 14, as the case may be. Such movement, however, is readily controlled or even arrested by the respective brake band.

Let it be assumed that by a suitable manipulation of the proper one of the hand levers, say, the lever 55, the drum 32 has been caused to rotate, thus winding the line 16 thereon and actuating the scoop 14 in the active direction along the boom 7, which is supposed to be in a substantially horizontal position and the scoop has been filled with the material to be excavated. The active rotation of the drum under consideration is in a direction in which the ratchet wheel 34 rides idly over the pawl 57 When the scoop is full the lever 55 is moved in a direction to release the brake band 46, whereupon the drum 32 stops. Now the lever 61 is moved in a direction to tighten the brake band 45, whereupon the line or cable 22 is wound upon the drum 31 and the outer end of the boom is lifted, carrying with it the scoop 14 which by this time has been drawn I to a point near the outer or free end of the boom and the scoop is elevated to the desired degree. If it be desired to swing the boom to one side or the other of the active path of movement of the scoop, this is done by the action of the line or cable 10v -When the boom has been lifted to the desired height the lever 61 is moved in a direction to release the band '45, whereupon the pawl 56 over which the ratchet wheel 33 has been engages the ratchet wheel 33, and so prevents reverse rotation of the drum 31. Now the bucket maybe dumped in the usual manner by a suitable manipulation of the jerk line 25, whereupon the boom may be swung back to its first position. it is desirabie, however, to return the bucket to a new position ready for further action upon the material to be excavated, so that the pawl 57 is moved out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 34 and the weight of the scoop will cause the scoop to gravitate tollt Elli

' wheel.

vers 55 and 61, or either of them, are moved to apply the respective brake bands with.

just enough force to tend to move the re spective ,drums in the winding direction, thus relieving the pawl holding the ratchet wheel from the weight of the parts susficient to permit the gravitating of the parts held by the drums to the desired lowered position. The lowering movements, however, may be controlled by a slip pressure of the respective brake bands upon the brake wheels 38 or 41, as the case may be, so that.

the action of gravity may be correspondingly retarded and the parts returned to their first positions without shock or jar.

While for convenience of'description it has been assumed that a. certain one of the drums controls the scoop and the other drum controls the boom, either control arrangement may be established.

.The arrangement described is such that the operation of the scoop and boom is controlled solely by two levers both in the active direction of the parts actuated, and in the return direction, while the lifted parts, de-

spite their weight, are securely held against return movement except as desired by the operator, who also has full control of the speed of movement of the return of such parts.

WVhat is claimed is v 1. In an excavating machine, load controlling means comprising a winding drum, planetary gearing and brake devices for controlling the transmission of power to the drum, a ratchet wheel fast to the'drum, a pawl for the ratchet wheel in normal engagement therewith, means for actuating the brake devices, and means movable with the last-named means and provided with connections in operative relation to the pawl for moving the latter out of engagement with the ratchet wheel at will and independent of the movements of the brake actuat-v ing means.

2. In an excavating machine, load controlling means comprising a winding drum, driving gearing and brake devices for the gearing for controlling the application of power tg the drum, a ratchet wheel fast to the drum, a pawl for the ratchet wheel in normal engagement therewith, a lever having connections to the brake devices for controlling the latter, nd. manually operable means in part carrier by the law provided with connections in operative relation ing gagement with the ratchet wheel at will,

said pawl controlling means being operable.

irrespective of movementsof the leverto control the brake devices. 7

3. In an excavating machine, load controlling means comprisin a winding drum, driving gearing and bra e devices for the gearing for controlling the application of power to the drum, a ratchet wheel fast to the drum, a pawl for the ratchet wheel in normal engagement therewith, a lever havcontrolling the latter, and manually operable means in part carriedby the lever and.

provided with connections in operative relation to the pawl for moving the latter out of engagement with the ratchet wheel at will, said pawl-controlling means being operable irrespective of movements 'of the le-.

ver to control the brake devices, the pawl having a normal trend'toward engagement of the ratchet wheel by gravity and the pawl operating means including devices for moving the pawl in opposition to the action of gravity.

4. In an excavating machine, load controllin means comprisln a winding drum, bra e means for contro ling the drum, pawl and ratchet means for controlling the drum,-

brake operating means, and means for controlling the pawl operatively independent of and in part carried by the brake operating means, whereby an operator in controlling the brake can at the same time controlthe pawl.

5. In an excavating machine, load controlling means comprismg a winding drum; means for the application of power to the winding drum, a lever for controlling'the means for applying power'to the drum, a ratchet wheel fast to the drum, a pawl for the ratchet wheel, and controlling means for the pawl in part mounted on and movable with the lever and having connections in operative relation to the pawl extending from the lever closely adjacent to the pivotal axis of said lever. I

6. In an excavating machine, load controlling means comprising a winding drum, means for the application of power to the winding drum, a lever for controlling the means for applying power to the drum, a ratchet wheel fast to the drum, a pawl for the ratchet wheel, and controlling means for the pawl in part mounted on and movable with the lever and having connections in operative relation to the pawl extending connections to the brake devices for I upon which naaaaar bucket and boom, a drive shaft carrying the drums, planetary gearing between the drive shaft and each drum, a brakewheel for each planetary gearing, a ratchet wheel for each drum, a pawl for each ratchet wheel in normal engagement therewith, a rock shaft the pawls are mounted, a brake band for each brake wheel, operating connections between the rock shaft and one of the brake hands, a hand lever connected to the rock shaft for actuating it, another hand lever mounted on and movable independently of the rock shaft, connections between the second hand lever and the other brake band, and pawl operating means for each pawl, each-pawloperating means being in part carried by a respective hand lever vwith manipulating devices adjacent to the manipulatin end of the hand lever, and connections etween the portions of the pawl actuating devices of the hand levers and the pawls, for moving the pawls out of engagement with the respective ratchetwheels at will irrespective of movements of the hand levers.

8. In an excavating machine, bucket and boom controlling drums individual to said-- bucket and boom, a drive shaft carrying the drums, planetary gearing between the a brake wheel I drive shaft and each drum, for each planetary gearing, a ratchet wheel for each drum, a pawl for each ratchet wheel in normal engagement therewith, a rock shai't upon which the pawls are mounted, a brake band for each brake wheel, operating connections between the rock shaft and one of the brake bands, a hand lever connected to the rock shaft for actuating it, another hand lever mounted on and movable indepenndently of the rock shaft, connections between the second hand lever and the other brake band, and pawl operating means for each pawl, each pawl operating means being in part carried by a respective hand lever with manipulating devices adjacent to the manipulating end of the hand lever, and connections between the portions of the pawl actuating devices of the hand lever and the pawls for moving the pawls out of engagement with the respective ratchet wheels at will irrespective of movement of the hand levers, said pawls being gravity pawls and the actuating devices for the pawls acting thereon in opposition to avlt lln t estimony that it claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE ELDER WAGNER, Witnesses:

Wnmram 'li. Bonnn, R. W. Downna. 

